Electric signaling system.



G. P. FRANK.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. P. FRANK.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET Z c. P. FRANK.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV.1, 1911 Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS SHBET 3.

all.

T3 v aw 3 n um 1 ton l/witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CROSBY FIELD FRANK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y."

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed November 1, 1911. Serial No. 657,985.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CROSBY F. FRANK, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the'county-of New York and State of New York,have-invented certain new and forward end of a train, when a seriescircuit extending through the train has been completed at a number ofother places, as for instance, at the doors or gates of the cars,constituting the train, whereby the driver at the forward end of thetrain will be notified when all the gates or doors of the cars of thetrain have been closed and that he may then safely start the train.

My improved signaling system provides a means by which all the guardsare informed when the driver has received the sig- I nal to start. Myimproved system also enables the driver to be signaled to stop by aguard or conductor at either end of any of the cars of the train, in theevent of an accident. My improved signaling system also, when signalingthe driver to stop, gives a similar signalat each end of each car in thetrain, thus notifying all theguards that the driver has been sosignaled.

My signaling system may employ a Sig;

naling device only at the front and rear of a train or it may, as may bepreferred, em-

ploy asignaling device at each end of each car in the train. Mysignaling system provides means whereby the signaling device in v theintermediate cars may be included in the circuit series or' shunted andrendered inoperative,.as may be desired.

My invention includes, as a part of my improved signaling'system inwhich an electric conductor is employed; a plurality 0-fthroughout thetrain are notified. My sig-,

naling system remains inoperative until each guard of the train or oerator at a distant stat-ion has performed his specified-duty andrequires each of them to perform his duty before a signal can betransmitted to the driver.

My invention consists, essentially, in a signaling system comprising aconductor having a gap, a movable closer for the gap, a circuit breaker,electrically operated means included in the circuit to restrain thecircuit breaker from operating and. means to open the circuit, therebycausing the said circuit breaker to' operate.

My invention further consists in the construction, combination andarrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is partly an elevation and partlya vertical longitudinal sectional view of a signaling switchconstituting a part of my improved signaling system; .Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view of the same on the plane indicated by the lineww of Fig. 1;.Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of the same on the planeindicated by the line y of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagram of a unit of myimproved signaling system in which one of the signaling switches is instop position; Fig.5 is

.a similar View of the same in which one of ning position; Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic view of my improved signaling system as in use on a steamrailway train; Fig. 8 :is a

similar view of the same modified as 'required for use on an electricrailway. train; Figs, 9 and 10 are sectional views of a sig nalingdevice constructed for operation as a part'of my signaling system; Fig.11 is a de tail sectional view of the detentfor holding I the lever armin starting'position; and Fig.

12 is a detail perspective view of the switch lever, a portion of thecircuit breaker and the actuating springs of the switch lever andcircuit breaker.

I will first describe a signaling switch especially adapted for use inconnect-ion will be in the cab of the locomotive for use by the engineerand one will be at each end of each car of the train for use by aconductor or guard and when my system is in use on an electric railwaytrain the switch at the front end of the front car will be used by themotorman and the others by the guards or car door or car gate closers.As it may not be convenient always to locate the switch within themotormans cab, this switch may be short circuited, by means hereinafterdescribed, when the motorman shall make use of the contact switch 100within his signaling device.

A suitable box or casing 1 is here shown as comprising a base 2 andvertical side walls 3. The upper sides of the said side walls are curvedas indicated at 4. In this box or casing is mounted an arbor 5 on whichis mounted the hub 6 of an arm 7. This arm extends upwardly, and itsupper end is beveled on one side as at 8. The said arm is also provided,near its lower end, with a bevel 9 which extends in thesame direction asthe bevel 8. A switch lever or handle 10 is pivotally connected, as at11, to the arm 7 and has a bevel shoulder 17 on one side to engage thebevel 8 when the switch arm or lever is in line with the arm 7. Hencethe said switch lever may move in one direction in the present instanceto the right, as indicated by the arrow (1, together with the arm 7 andmay be turned in the reverse direction on its pivot 11 independently ofthe said arm as will be understood. To normally keep the lever 10 inline with the arm 7 I provide a comparatively weak spring 13 which bearsagainst one side of the arm and one side of the lever and the inner endof which is secured to the arm as indicated at 14:. A coil spring 15,which is stronger than the spring 13, has its coiled portion disposed onthe hub 6, one end of the spring being attached to the arm 7 and theother end thereof to the casing or boxing 1, as at 16, or by anysuitable means, and this spring acts to exert tension on the arm 7 toturn the latter, and hence also the switch lever 10, in the directionindicated by the arrow 6, in the present instance to the left. A stop 17is provided to limit the extent of movement of the arm 10.

A pair of electrodes are indicated at 18 and 19. The electrode 19 is aspring and moves normally from the electrode 18, to open or break thecircuit and the said electrode 19 is preferably provided on one sidenear its free end with an anti-friction roller 20.' The switch lever 10has a circuit closing device, here shown as a segment arm 21. Thissegment arm is insulated from, but is secured to, the switch lever formovement therewith. The electrode 19 is disposed in the path of movementof the circuit closer or segment arm 21 and when the switch lever 10 isvertical or is moved to the right toward the stop 17 the electrode 19is, by the action of the circuit closer 21, closed against electromagnet24. The electrode 19 is connected by a conductor 25 to a binding post orconnector 26. The switchalso includes a device which I call a circuitopener and which comprises an arm 27 which is provided with a hub 28which is mounted for partial rotation on the arbor 5. A spring 29 has acoiled portion which is. disposed on the projecting end of the hub 28.One end of the spring bears on a stop or projection 30 in the box orcasing and the other end of the spring is connected to the outerside ofthe arm 27. This spring is coiled and exerts tension to move the circuitopener in the direction indicated by the arrow 6. This spring 29 is muchmore powerful than the spring 13 and the arm 27 of the circuit opener isprovided on the side next the arm 7 with a striker or hammer 31. The arm27 of the circuit opener is movable angularly on the pivot 5 toward andfrom one pole of the electromagnet 24, and the said arm is made of ironand also forms an armature.

In one side of the casing is a detent 32 which extends into the paths ofthe lever arm 10 and arm 27, is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 33,and is provided on its outer side, near its pivotal end, with a camsurface 34 and a shoulder 35, the detent being provided at its terminalor free end with a cam 36. A spring 37 is mounted on a pin 38 and bearsbetween one side of the casing and the inner side of the detent, thesaid pin being connected flexibly to the detent, as at 39, and beingconnected to the side of the box or casing, as at lO, for slightlongitudinal movement so that the detent is adapted for pivotalmovement, the spring 37 serving to project the detent into the pathsofthe lever arm 10 and the circuit opener arm 27.

When the switch is included in the signal circuit, hereinafterdescribed, its operation is as follows. The initial position of theswitch is indicated in Fig. 4 in which the arms 7 and 27 are verticaland the arm 1.0 is inclined to the left, against the tension of thespring 13, so that the closer 21 carried by the said arm is out ofcontact with the electrode 19 and the latter is therefore, by its springaction, out of contact with the electrode 18, the signaling circuitbeing broken between the said electrodes, andthe arm 10 beingat theextreme left at stop position. the lever arm 10 is moved to the right,":shown in Fig. 5;, the arm 7 witht it, after having on its pivot 11into alinement with said arm magnet 24.

der 17 of said arm. Such movement of the arm 10 and the arm 7 also, byreason of the engagement of the armlO with the hammer 31 of the arm 27,causes said arm 27 to also move to the right. The extent ofsuch movementof the arm 10 is limited by the stop 17' and suchmovement of the arm 10causes the same to pass over the cam face 34 of the detent 32 so thatthe arm 10 becomes engaged by the shoulder 35 of the detent,the detentserving to lock the arm 10 in such position. When the arm 10 is in thisposition the arm 27 is near the cam 36 of the detent and its hammer 31remains in engagement with thearm 10, this movement of the arm 27 withthe arms 10 and 7 disposing the arm 27, which is an armature, within thefield'of force of the electro- When the electromagnet becomes energized,by the means and in the manner hereinafter described, it attracts thearmature 27 and causes said arm to ride over the cam 36 01? the detentand thus turn the detent on its pivot 33 a sufiicient distance todisengage its shoulder 35 from the lever arm 10 so that the said leverarm becomes released from the detent and thereupon the spring 15, whichwas put under tension by the movement of the lever arm 10 to the right,operates to turn the said lever arm to the left until it reachesavertical position as shown in Fig. 6. Such movement of the arm 10 to avertical position, however, does not open the circuit betweentheelectrodes 18- and 19, as the segmental circuit closer 21 still remainsin contact with the electrode 19 and continues to press the latteragainst the electrode 18. The armature arm 27 is held in inclinedposition to the right by the attraction of the electromagnet 24, whichremains energized. Hence when the switch is in running position as shownin Fig. 6, the arms 7 and 10 are vertical and the armature arm 27 is inaninclined position, attracted by the electromagnet and spaced with itshammer 31 some distance from the arm 10, and the armature arm is ,heldby the attraction of the electromagnet in such position, againstthetension of the spring 29, which tends to' throw said armature arm,with its hammer 31, to the left or in the direction indicated by thearrow 7). When thus held in attracted position, the armature arm of thecircuit opener bears against the stop 41. When the signal circuit isbroken at any point. the electromagnet becomes denergized and thereuponthe spring 29 throws the circuit opener to the left, causing the hammer31 to strike the switch arm 10 and turn the latter to the left on itspivot 11, against the tension of the spring 13, thus disposing the.switch in stop position, shown in Fig. 4, and causing the circuit closer21 to disengage the electrode 19 so that the latter opens from theelectrode 18 and hence the ci rcuit,is broken or opened and a gap formedbetween the said electrodes.

The side walls of the box or casing are each curved at one end, as at42, concentrically with the pivot 11, when the arm 7 is in verticalposition and at the opposite end, as at 43, concentrically with thepivot 5. A cover 44 is secured to and movable with the lever 10, abovethe box or casing to house the latter and prevent rain water or the likefrom entering the same through the space between the side walls, andthis cover is curved to correspond with the shape of the side walls ofthe box or casing, as shown and is provided with depending side flanges54 which bear on the outer sides of the side walls of the box or casing.

In the diagram, Fig. 7, I illustrate my improved signaling system as inuse on a steamrailway train,- the locomotive being indicated at c andeach car, constituting a unit of the system at (Z. Each car has aconducting wire 46 running from end to end thereof, the conducting wiresof the cars being connected together at the ends of the cars by suitableflexible couplers 47. At each end of each car is one of my signalingswitches 48, hereinbefore described, the conductors 22 and 25 of whichare connected to and inserted with the conductor 46. Also at each end ofeach car is a double throw switch 49, each of which has one pointconnected to the conductor 46 and the other point with the ground, at50, or with the car wheels running on the track rails. A battery orother source of electric current is indicated in the locomotive at 51,one pole of which is connected to the ground at 52. A resistance, whichmay be employed if necessary, is indicated at 53 and the conducting wire54 which leads from the battery to the coupler 47 of the front carincludes a signaling device,

which may be any suitable device, such as a hell, or a semaphore signal,at 55. When the signaling system is in running order the switches 49 areall closed excepting the one at -the rear end of the last car which willbe thrown to the ground point 50, as shown. When any one of thesignaling switches 48 is opened, the signal circuit is broken and,hence, all of the signal switches will be moved to initial, stopposition by the" means and in the manner hereinbefore described. As theguard at each end of each car closes the gates or doors underhis chargehe manually turns the lever 10 of the signaling switch to the circuitclosing position shown in Fig. 5. No current flows through the signalingcircuit until all of the slgnaling switches are in circuit closingposition, but the instant the last guard, in point of time, closes hisgates or doors and-sets the -vice (Fig. 5) in the cab of the locomotiveis also actuated, thereby notifying the engineer that the gates or doorsof every car of the train are closed and that it is safe for him toproceed. The signaling circuit remains charged with current all the timethe train is running, the signaling switches being held in runningposition by the magnetic action of the electromagnet on the armaturearms of the circuit closers. In the event of an accident a guard ateither end of any car of the train may instantly signal to the engineerto stop, by manually turning the switch lever 10 of'the signal switch tostop position (Fig. 4) thereby breaking the signal circuit and hencecausing all the signaling switches of the train to move to stop positionand also causing the translating device 55 in the locomotive cab to givethe stop signal, and, hence, not only the engineer of the locomotive,but the guards of all the cars of the train are notified.

' In the diagram, Fig. 8, I illustrate my improved signaling system asin use on an electric railway train. Two car units are shown. 57 is thetrolley line or third rail conductor, 58 is the traveling shoes ortrolleys and 59 is the ground points which may be the car wheels runningon the conductor rails. The conductors 60 of the-car units are connectedtogether between the cars by the couplers 61 and each conductor 60includes a variable resistance 62 and a signaling device 63, and alsoincludes a short circuiting switch 64, by means of which the signals andthe variable resistances may be shunted. At each end of each car one ofmy signaling switches 48* is included in the signahng circuit, andbranch conductors lead from the conductors 60 and each includes a doublethrow switch 66, whereby either end of each conductor unit 60 may beconnected either to the trolley or the ground, as may be necessary, ordisconnected fromboth-of them. It will be understood that all of thesignaling switches, signaling devices 63 and the variable resistancesmay be connected in a series from end to end of the train, or thesignaling device and variable'rcsist-ance of any one of the cars may beshunted, according to the position'of the short circuiting switches 64:.In the diagram the signaling evices and variable resistances of thefront and rear cars of the train are shown connected in a series withall of the signaling switches, and the signaling devices and variable.resistance of the intermediate cars are shown shunted. 'In the operationof the system each guard, as he closes his gate or gates, moves thehandle or lever of his signaling switch to the intermediate positionshown in Fig. 5, thereby closing the signal circuit at his point andwhen the last guard closes his gate or gates and correspondinglyoperates the lever of his signaling switch, the signaling circuit iscompleted and supplied with current and all of the signaling switches,including that at the front end of the front car, where the motorman isstationed, are set to running position and at the same time all of thesignaling oevices included in the circuit are operated, and the motormanis thereby notified that all the doors or gates of the train are closedand that he may proceed without danger.

As my improved signaling system provides two signaling switches to' eachguard, one on the rear platforms of the forward car and the other on thefront platform of the rear car, I have provided a switch 101, to connectthe binding posts 25 and 26. Normally this switchlOl is open, but whenit is closed, it cuts out of service the entire sig naling switch in thebox of which it is lo cated, by shunting across its terminals, as willbe understood.

One of the advantages of y signaling system is that by its means eachand every guard or conductor of a train is in direct communication withthe motorman or engineer when the signal to start has been given. Byproper connections, when any one slgnaling switch is at stop the brakesmay be put in operation. Furthermore, my signaling system puts themotorman or en gineer in charge of the doors or gates of the cars. Itenables him to pull slowly into a station following another train whichis just going out without any danger of any one of the guards opening agate until after he brings the train to a stop and signals the ards,

While I have herein shown and described my signaling system as for useon railway trains I would have it understood that it may be usedwherever simultaneous action is desired between two or more persons at adistance from one another or where a signal is to be transmitted by themost rapid means from one or more persons or places before an operationis to be performed by one person at another place. It may be adapted foruse at race courses, toboggan slides, on ships, elevators, or lifts, onscenic railways and in other connections.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I show, in detail, a suitable construction of thesignaling device 63. The casing 67 is provided at onehside with a wall68 of glass or other suitable transparent material. In this casing ismounted an electromagnct 69, the windings of which are, in practice,included in circuit with the conductor 60, binding posts 70 being hereshown'for this purpose. The armature 71 has an arm 72 which is pivotedat 73 and a cuit including a translating device and a spring 74 isattached to the armature arm and serves to normally raise the same abovethe upper pole of the electromagnet. A semaphore arm 75 is also providedwhich is pivotally mounted in the casing, near the glass cover or wall68, the pivot of the semaphore arm being indicated at 76. The armaturearm is provided, in its free end, on one side, with a slot 77, which isindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, and this slot is engaged. by a pin78 which projects from the semaphore.

. Hence, when the armature is in normal, elevat-ed position supported bythe spring 74, the semaphore is raised. When the circuit is closed andthe signaling system is .in running condition the electromagnet 69 isenergized and, the armature, being de-' pressed, causes the semaphore tostand in vertical position as indicated in the diagram Fig. 6 and asalso indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9 and in full lines in Fig. 10.The instant that the circuit is broken, by the means and for thepurposes hereinbefore described, the electromagnet becomes deenergizedand the semaphore is raised to horizontal position as shown in diagramsFigs. 4 and 5 and also in full lines in Fig. 9. A switch 100 is includedin circuit with the electromagnet- 69. This switch is composed of acontactor 102, secured at one end as at 103, and which normally rests atthe other end against one of the binding posts 70, which forms the otherelectrode, keeping the switch normally closed. .An insulating plunger orhandle 104 rests on the spring contact. By pressing this plunger theswitch may be opened and the circuit thus broken, as will be understood.

I would have it understood that any suitable signaling instrument may beused, within the scope of my invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electric signaling system, a circuit including a translatingdevice and a plurality of switches, means in connection with each switchto-lock the same in closed position, and electrically controlled meansacting when energized to unlock the switch and when denergized, to movethe switch to open position.

2. In an electric signaling system, a circuit including a translatingdevice and a plurality of switches connected in series, mechanical meansin connection with each switch to lock the same in closed position, theswitch tending, when unlocked, to move toward but short of openposition, and electrically controlled means included in the circuit andacting, when energized, to unlock the switch and when subsequentlydeenergized, to move the switch-to open position.

3'. In an electric signaling system, a cirplurality of switchesconnected in series, each switch including a circuit closer and a switchlever, a detent arranged to lock the switch lever and circuit closer inclosed position, an electromagnet included in the circuit, meansincluding an armature disposed in the locked position of the lever inthe field of the magnet and arranged when the magnet is energized tooperate the detent to release the lever, and means acting upon saidarmature when the magnet is denergized to cause the same to move thelever and circuit closer to open position.

4. A signaling system of the class described, comprising a circuitincludinga plurality of switches, each switch including a movablecircuit closer, locking means for securing the circuit closer in closedposition, means including an armature for unlocking the circuit closerand moving the same to open position, and an electromagnet acting uponthe armature to restrain the same and to move it in a direction tounlock the circuit closer, the said electromagnets being in.

cluded in the switch circuit.

5. A signaling system of the class described, having a circuit,includinga translating device and a plurality of switches, each switchincluding a movable circuit closer, locking means for securing thecircuit closer in closed position, means including an armature forunlocking the circuit closer and for moving the same to open position,and an electromagnet acting upon the armature to restrain the same andto move thearmature in a direction to unlock the circuit closer, thesaid electromagnets being included in the switch circuit.

6. A signaling system of the class described including a conductorhaving a gap and also including a switch having a movable circuit closerto close the gap, an electromagnet in circuit with the conductor, apivotally mountedarm, a lever arm carried by and pivotally connected tothe first men-' tioned arm and to which the said circuit closer isattached, a spring to turn the first mentioned arm and the lever arm inone direction, a spring to normally keep the lever arm inline with thefirst mentioned arm and yet permit the lever arm to turn at an anglethereto into circuit opening position, a detent to lock the lever arm incircuit closing position and a circuit breaker comprising a pivotallymounted arm forming an armature for attraction by the electromagnet andhaving a hammerto strike the lever arm, said armature arm acting torelease the detent from the lever arm when the armature arm is attractedand a spring to actuate the armature arm and cause the hammer thereof toturn the lever arm to circuit opening position when the circuit throughthe conductor is broken at any point.

*7. ,A signaling system, comprising a circuit having a gap, a movablecloser for the gap, inechanicalmeans for locking the circuit closer inclosed position, electrically operated means included in the circuit,which when energized, is arranged to unlock the circuit closer, and whendeenergized, is arranged to move the circuit closer to open position,and means for opening the circuit.

8. A signaling system of the class de-' scribed comprising a conductorincluding a switch, said switch including a movable cir cuitcloser,locking means to secure the circuit closer in closed position, meansincluding an armature release to the circuit closer from the lockingmeans and to move the circuit closer to open position, anelectromagnet-included in the circuit with the conductor, and means toopen the circuit and thereby cause the electromagnet to be deenergizedand permit the armature to act.

9. In an electric signaling system, a circuit including a translatingdevice and a plurality of switches connected in series, each switchincluding a jointed switch lever, a circuit closer carried by the switchlever,

yielding means tending to maintain the i switch lever sections inalinement with the circuit closer in operation and the circuit closed, adetent disposed at one side of the normal position of the switch leverand arranged to lock the switch in closed position, an electromagnetincluded inthe circuit, an armature pivotally mounted to move in the athof the switch lever from a position in the field of the magnet in thedirection of the opening movement of the switch lever, said armaturearranged to be brought in the locking position of the switch lever intothe field of the magnet and to bear upon the detent, said armaturearranged when the magnet is energized to release the switch lever fromthe detent and permit the same to assume its normal position andarranged when the magnet is denergized by the breaking of the circuit atany point in the system to swing upon its pivot and strike against theswitch lever to move the same into open position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CROSBY FIELD FRANK.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. NORRIS,

JOHN F. H. DOUGLAS.

